خَليلَيَّ مِن كَعبٍ أَعينا أَخاكُما

خَليلَيَّ مِن كَعبٍ أَعينا أَخاكُما

عَلى دَهرِهِ إِنَّ الكَريمَ مُعينُ

عَلى دَهرِهِ إِنَّ الكَريمَ مُعينُ

My two friends from Kaʿb, help your brother

My two friends from Ka'b, be the support of your brother

Against his fate; indeed, a noble man lends aid.

In his fate, truly the generous are a support

وَلا تَبخَلا بُخلَ اِبنِ قَزعَةَ إِنَّهُ

وَلا تَبخَلا بُخلَ اِبنِ قَزعَةَ إِنَّهُ

مَخافَةَ أَن يُرجى نَداهُ حَزينُ

مَخافَةَ أَن يُرجى نَداهُ حَزينُ

And do not be miserly like Ibn Qazʿah; indeed, he is

Do not be stingy with the stinginess of the son of Qaz'ah, indeed he

Sorrowful for fear that his bounty might be hoped for.

Fears that his help may be hoped for in sorrow

كَأَنَّ عُبَيدَ اللَهِ لَم يَلقَ ماجِداً

كَأَنَّ عُبَيدَ اللَهِ لَم يَلقَ ماجِداً

وَلَم يَدرِ أَنَّ المَكرُماتِ تَكونُ

وَلَم يَدرِ أَنَّ المَكرُماتِ تَكونُ

As though ʿUbayd Allah had never met a noble man,

As if Obaidullah had not met a glorious man

And never knew that noble deeds exist.

And did not know that favors can be done

فَقُل لِأَبي يَحيى مَتى تُدرِكُ العُلا

فَقُل لِأَبي يَحيى مَتى تُدرِكُ العُلا

وَفي كُلِّ مَعروفٍ عَلَيكَ يَمينُ

وَفي كُلِّ مَعروفٍ عَلَيكَ يَمينُ

So say to Abu Yahya: “When will you attain eminence,

So say to Abu Yahya when will you attain high rank

While an oath binds you against every act of kindness?”

And in every good deed upon you a debt

إِذا جِئتَهُ في حاجَةٍ سَدَّ بابَهُ

إِذا جِئتَهُ في حاجَةٍ سَدَّ بابَهُ

فَلَم تَلقَهُ إِلّا وَأَنتَ كَمينُ

فَلَم تَلقَهُ إِلّا وَأَنتَ كَمينُ

When you come to him with a need, he shuts his door,

If you come to him in need and he closes his door

So you never meet him unless you lie in wait.

You will not meet him unless you lie in wait